Pool updates: President Obama’s Martha’s Vineyard vacation ends

In a news conference from Blue Heron Farm Friday President Obama asked the public to take precautions in advance of Hurricane Irene. — Photo by Vince DeWitt/Pool via CNPhttp://www.mvtimes.com/marthas-vineyard/images/2011/09/01/large/obamahurrri

10 pm, Friday

President Obama and the entire White House entourage left Blue Heron Farm and traveled by long motorcade to the Martha’s Vineyard Airport. The pool did not see the president. Helicopters lifted off about 9:25 pm bound for U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, where the Mr. Obama will board Air Force One for the his return to the White House.

The Martha’s Vineyard vacation is over.

12:57 pm, Friday

A White House officials tells the pool that in an off-camera briefing at the Mansion House today, deputy press secretary Josh Earnest announced the president will leave Martha’s Vineyard this evening.

11:28 am, Friday

President Obama made the following statement about hurricane Irene from Blue Heron Farm in Chilmark.

Good morning, everybody. I want to say a few words about hurricane Irene, urge Americans to take it seriously, and provide an overview of our ongoing federal preparations for what’s likely to be an extremely dangerous and costly storm.

I’ve just convened a conference call with senior members of my emergency response team and directed them to make sure that we are bringing all federal resources to bear and deploying them properly to cope not only with the storm but also its aftermath. I’ve also spoken this morning with governors and mayors of major metropolitan areas along the Eastern Seaboard to let them know that this administration is in full support of their efforts to prepare for this storm and stands ready to fully support their response efforts. And we will continue to stay in close contact with them.

I cannot stress this highly enough: If you are in the projected path of this hurricane, you have to take precautions now. Don’t wait. Don’t delay. We all hope for the best, but we have to be prepared for the worst. All of us have to take this storm seriously. You need to listen to your state and local officials, and if you are given an evacuation order, please follow it. Just to underscore this point: We ordered an aircraft carrier group out to sea to avoid this storm yesterday. So if you’re in the way of this hurricane, you should be preparing now.

If you aren’t sure how to prepare your families or your home or your business for a hurricane or any other emergency, then you can visit ready.gov — that’s Ready.gov — or Listo.gov. That’s Listo.gov.

Now, since last weekend, FEMA has been deploying its Incident Management Assistance Teams to staging areas in communities up and down the coast. FEMA has millions of liters of water, millions of meals, and tens of thousands of cots and blankets, along with other supplies, pre-positioned along the Eastern Seaboard. And the American Red Cross has already begun preparing shelters in North Carolina and other states.

These resources are all being coordinated with our state and local partners, and they stand ready to be deployed as necessary. But, again, if you are instructed to evacuate, please do so. It’s going to take time for first responders to begin rescue operations and to get the resources we’ve pre-positioned to people in need. So the more you can do to be prepared now — making a plan, make a supply kit, know your evacuation route, follow instructions of your local officials — the quicker we can focus our resources after the storm on those who need help the most.

To sum up, all indications point to this being a historic hurricane. Although we can’t predict with perfect certainty the impact of Irene over the next few days, the federal government has spent the better part of last week working closely with officials in communities that could be affected by this storm to see to it that we are prepared. So now is the time for residents of these communities — in the hours that remain — to do the same. And FEMA and Craig Fugate, the director of FEMA, will be keeping people closely posted in the next 24, 48 hours. Thank you very much.

10:18 pm Thursday

President Obama and Mrs. Obama left State Road Restaurant in West Tisbury at 10 pm, after a three hour dinner with Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and his wife Diane, Valerie Jarrett and her daughter Laura Jarrett, and Vernon and Ann Jordan.

Mr. and Mrs. Obama were back home in Chilmark by 10:07 p.m. No word on what they ate, but tonight’s specials included Morning Glory Farm Sweet Corn Soup, Good Farm Roasted Chicken, Menemsha Fluke and steamed local clams.

After a long day of beaching and good eats, a full lid was called at 10:17 p.m.

– Remy Tumin, Vineyard Gazette

7:30 pm, Thursday

The White House announced details of the president’s departure plans.

On Saturday, August 27, the president will travel from Martha’s Vineyard via Marine One to Cape Cod Coast Guard Air Station. The departure from Martha’s Vineyard is travel pool coverage only.

Following the arrival at Cape Cod Coast Guard Air Station, the president will return to Washington aboard Air Force One. The departure from Cape Cod Coast Guard Air Station will be open to the press.

6:59 pm, Thursday

Under grey skies and a light drizzle the president and Mrs. Obama left Blue Heron Farm at 6:53 pm and arrived at State Road Restaurant in West Tisbury just after 7 pm.

– Remy Tumin, Vineyard Gazette

The first family returned to Blue Heron Farm in Chilmark just before 4:30, after nearly five hours of beach time. No word on next move.

Wind is picking up on the plains of Grey Barn Farm. Press pool is holding near outside the barns and chicken coops.

– Remy Tumin, Vineyard Gazette

4:21 pm, Thursday

President and family left the private South Shore Pohogonot beach off Edgartown Great Pond at 4:17 headed up-Island. The family stayed at the beach for nearly five hours today, under partly sunny skies and a warm breeze.

– Remy Tumin, Vineyard Gazette

1:04 pm, Thursday

With hurricane Irene pushing up the coast and due to make landfall on the Vineyard late Sunday night, President Obama convened a call with several White House officials for a storm update. Chief of staff Bill Daley, Department of Homeland Security secretary Janet Napolitano, FEMA administrator Craig Fugate and others were on the call to discuss FEMA’s preparations for the storm’s impact on the east coast. The president directed the group to continue to work closely with state and local officials and use all resources necessary.

The president has no plans to leave the Island early.

The president was also updated on overnight developments in Libya in his daily national security update from counterterrorism adviser John Brennan.

In other morning calls, Treasury secretary Tim Geithner, OMB director Jack Lew and NEC director Gene Sperling, along with Mr. Daley, convened his regular briefing on the economy; progress continues on the new jobs proposal and deficit reduction plan.

The president and his family are still enjoying an afternoon at the beach in Edgartown. Bikers in the state forest are hanging around the press pool hoping to snap a photo of the first family. Pool is still holding.

– Remy Tumin, Vineyard Gazette

12:13 pm, Thursday

The President and first family arrived at 11:30 for some beach time on the South Shore in Edgartown. This is the third time the family has visited the private Pohogonot beach off Edgartown Great Pond during their vacation.

Big waves and white sand await the family. Pool is holding at the fire break in the state forest.

– Remy Tumin, Vineyard Gazette

11:22 am, Thursday

President and first family left Blue Heron Farm at 11:20, as kids from the Grey Barn Farm Tour looked on and waived. Destination unknown.

– Remy Tumin, Vineyard Gazette

10:18, Thursday

President Obama and the First Lady left State Road restaurant in West Tisbury at 10 p.m after a three hour dinner with Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and wife Diane, Valerie Jarrett and her daughter Laura Jarrett, and Vernon and Ann Jordan.

Mr. and Mrs. Obama were back home in Chilmark by 10:07 p.m. No word on what they ate, but tonight’s specials included Morning Glory Farm Sweet Corn Soup, Good Farm Roasted Chicken, Menemsha Fluke and steamed local clams.

After a long day of beaching and good eats, a full lid was called at 10:17 p.m.

Remy Tumin, Vineyard Gazette

It’s dinner time for the President and First Lady, arriving at the State Road restaurant in West Tisbury just after 7pm. The couple joined friends for a rainy evening supper on the side porch of the farm-to-table restaurant. The menu changes daily depending on what’s available from Vineyard farms and fishermen.

The President and First Lady spent just over two hours at Blue Heron Farm before heading out for the night. The couple ate at the restaurant last year as well.

Press pool is holding on a back road off State Road.

Remy Tumin, Vineyard Gazette

4:34 pm, Thursday

President and family left the private south shore Pohogonot beach off Edgartown Great Pond at 4:17 headed up-Island. The family stayed at the beach for nearly 5 hours today, under partly sunny skies and a warm breeze.

The first family returned to Blue Heron Farm in Chilmark just before 4:30 after nearly 5 hours of beach time. No word on next move.

Wind is picking up on the plains of Grey Barn Farm. Press pool is holding near outside the barns and chicken coops.

Remy Tumin, Vineyard Gazette

Thursday, 1:30 pm

With Hurricane Irene pushing up the coast and due to make landfall on the Vineyard late Sunday night, President Obama convened a call with several White House officials for a storm update. Chief of staff Bill Daley, Department of Homeland Security secretary Janet Napolitano, FEMA administrator Craig Fugate and others were on the call to discuss FEMA’s preparations for the storm’s impact on the east coast. The President directed the group to continue to work closely with state and local officials and use all resources necessary.

The President has no plans to leave the Island early.

The President was also updated on overnight developments in Libya in his daily national security update from counterterrorism adviser John Brennan.

In other morning calls Treasury secretary Tim Geithner, OMB director Jack Lew and NEC director Gene Sperling along with Mr. Daley convened his regular briefing on the economy; progress continues on the new jobs proposal and deficit reduction plan.

The President and his family are still enjoying an afternoon at the beach in Edgartown. Bikers in the state forest are hanging around the press pool hoping to snap a photo of the first family. Pool is still holding.

Remy Tumin, Vineyard Gazette

11:30 am, Thursday

The President and first family arrived at 11:30 for some beach time on the south shore in Edgartown. This is the third time the family has visited the private Pohogonot beach off Edgartown Great Pond during their vacation.

Big waves and white sand await the family. Pool is holding at the fire break in the state forest.

Remy Tumin, Vineyard Gazette

President and first family left Blue Heron Farm at 11:20 as kids from the Grey Barn Farm Tour looked on and waived. Destination unknown.

Pool is holding at Blue Heron Farm on a hot and hazy August day.

A large farm tour at Grey Barn Farm is peering around in hopes of catching a glimpse of action in between milking demonstrations and visiting the Dutch Belted cows.